source for a good hydrometer?

updated wed 10 oct 01

Jim Karavias on mon 8 oct 01

Hi John, and all others that responded to the hydrometer question.

Thanks for the good advice. If I had thought about it a bit longer I would
have remembered that specific gravity is essentially density and realized
all I needed to do was weigh a fixed volume. Duh! I was following Vince
Pitelka's instructions for Terra Sig and was more intent on precision in the
process than the meaning of the process.

I did end up finding a 1.0 - 2.0 and may return it. Unless someone out there
needs it :-) Cheap ;-)

>> I've been looking for a hydrometer for sp. gr. range of 1.000 to 2.000
and
>> non of the ceramics supply houses I have access to carry one with that
>> range. Does anyone know of a mail order supplier that carries this?

Hi Jim,

You might reconsider whether or not you really want a hydrometer. If you
are using it for clay or glaze slips/slurries, hydrometers are notoriously
imprecise for suspensions. They work OK for single phase materials. Rather
get yourself a 100 ml graduated cylinder and weigh 100 ml of your
glaze/slip. It will be much more precise, just as accurate and just about
as simple.

You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/

Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

Michael Wendt on mon 8 oct 01

We have a hydrometer we got from Seattle Pottery, but you can determine SG
just as wee with a gram scale. Get a plastic measuring cup and tare the gram
scale to zero. Then weigh 1000 g of room temperature water. It should verify
that the markings are correct on the cup, but if they are wrong, draw in new
markings for the 1000 g weight of water. Now, any liquid you weigh in this
cup that is filled to that line will weigh some amount, let's say 1682 g.
Then the specific gravity of that liquid is 1.682 and all you need is about
a liter. For smaller amounts, you can also work with 100 g samples and do
the same comparison, but it will be less accurate.
Hope this helps,
Regards,
Michael Wendt wendtpot@lewiston.com----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Karavias" To: Sent: Monday, October 08, 2001 10:55 AM
Subject: Source for a good hydrometer?

> Hi,
>
> I've been looking for a hydrometer for sp. gr. range of 1.000 to 2.000 and
> non of the ceramics supply houses I have access to carry one with that
> range. Does anyone know of a mail order supplier that carries this?
>
> An interesting note: Fisher scientific is reviewing every order placed to
> determine if the products ordered can be used to make weapons of mass
> destruction. They wouldn't sell me a hydrometer, initially because it was
> considered a "hazardous" piece of equipment, and finally because I didn't
> place a min $75 order.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jim Karavias

Jim Karavias on mon 8 oct 01

Hi,

I've been looking for a hydrometer for sp. gr. range of 1.000 to 2.000 and
non of the ceramics supply houses I have access to carry one with that
range. Does anyone know of a mail order supplier that carries this?

An interesting note: Fisher scientific is reviewing every order placed to
determine if the products ordered can be used to make weapons of mass
destruction. They wouldn't sell me a hydrometer, initially because it was
considered a "hazardous" piece of equipment, and finally because I didn't
place a min $75 order.

Thanks,

Jim Karavias

Dale Neese on mon 8 oct 01

Click on this link for a web catalog to Analytical Scientific, Ltd.

http://www.analyticalsci.com/default1.htm

Dale Tex

Russ Fish on mon 8 oct 01

Dear Jim,

I am new to the Clayart discussion list on would offer you the following to
measuring specific gravity. I use an instrument called a Pyknometer. It is
a stainless steel 100 milliliter cup ( it comes in others volumes). This
Pyknometer is more expensive, but very accurate and is the industrial
standard for measuring specific gravity. The Memphis location of Clayworld
will be selling them in the next week. However, you can purchase them from
the producer of these Pyknometers in Stoke-on-Trent, England.
The company is called E.J. Payne and their website is www.ejpayne.com .
Good Luck,

> Hi,
>
> I've been looking for a hydrometer for sp. gr. range of 1.000 to 2.000 and
> non of the ceramics supply houses I have access to carry one with that
> range. Does anyone know of a mail order supplier that carries this?
>
> An interesting note: Fisher scientific is reviewing every order placed to
> determine if the products ordered can be used to make weapons of mass
> destruction. They wouldn't sell me a hydrometer, initially because it was
> considered a "hazardous" piece of equipment, and finally because I didn't
> place a min $75 order.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Jim Karavias
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>

vince pitelka on mon 8 oct 01

> I've been looking for a hydrometer for sp. gr. range of 1.000 to 2.000 and
> non of the ceramics supply houses I have access to carry one with that
> range. Does anyone know of a mail order supplier that carries this?

Jim -
Go to www.sargentwelch.com and enter "hydrometers" in the search box. You
will find a wide range of reasonably-priced hydrometers for every range.
They have a number that measure in the 1.00 to 2.00 range, but keep in mind
that in the upper end of this range hydrometers are extremely inaccurate.
They are great for doing terra sigillata, and if that is what you want then
you should get the one they sell which measures from 1.000 to 1.225. That
covers the full range you would need for terra sig, and with a lot more
precision than the one which covers the full range from 1.00 to 2.00.
Best wishes -
- Vince

Nevin Murtha on mon 8 oct 01

Try an auto parts store. They are used to test batteies. You could also
try a home brew or win making shop. I brew and have one but the range is
only .9 to 1.4
-----Original Message-----
From: Jim Karavias To: CLAYART@LSV.CERAMICS.ORG Date: Monday, October 08, 2001 3:29 PM
Subject: Source for a good hydrometer?

>Hi,
>
>I've been looking for a hydrometer for sp. gr. range of 1.000 to 2.000 and
>non of the ceramics supply houses I have access to carry one with that
>range. Does anyone know of a mail order supplier that carries this?
>
>An interesting note: Fisher scientific is reviewing every order placed to
>determine if the products ordered can be used to make weapons of mass
>destruction. They wouldn't sell me a hydrometer, initially because it was
>considered a "hazardous" piece of equipment, and finally because I didn't
>place a min $75 order.
>
>Thanks,
>
>Jim Karavias
>
>___________________________________________________________________________
___
>Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
>You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
>settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
>Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.
>

John Hesselberth on mon 8 oct 01

on 10/8/01 4:47 PM, Russ Fish at russ@CLAYWORLD.COM wrote:

>> I've been looking for a hydrometer for sp. gr. range of 1.000 to 2.000 and
>> non of the ceramics supply houses I have access to carry one with that
>> range. Does anyone know of a mail order supplier that carries this?

Hi Jim,

You might reconsider whether or not you really want a hydrometer. If you
are using it for clay or glaze slips/slurries, hydrometers are notoriously
imprecise for suspensions. They work OK for single phase materials. Rather
get yourself a 100 ml graduated cylinder and weigh 100 ml of your
glaze/slip. It will be much more precise, just as accurate and just about
as simple.

> > I've been looking for a hydrometer for sp. gr. range of 1.000 to 2.000
and
> > non of the ceramics supply houses I have access to carry one with that
> > range. Does anyone know of a mail order supplier that carries this?
>
> Jim -
> Go to www.sargentwelch.com and enter "hydrometers" in the search box. You
> will find a wide range of reasonably-priced hydrometers for every range.
> They have a number that measure in the 1.00 to 2.00 range, but keep in
mind
> that in the upper end of this range hydrometers are extremely inaccurate.
> They are great for doing terra sigillata, and if that is what you want
then
> you should get the one they sell which measures from 1.000 to 1.225. That
> covers the full range you would need for terra sig, and with a lot more
> precision than the one which covers the full range from 1.00 to 2.00.
> Best wishes -
> - Vince
>
> Vince Pitelka
> Appalachian Center for Crafts
> Tennessee Technological University
> 1560 Craft Center Drive, Smithville TN 37166
> Home - vpitelka@dtccom.net
> 615/597-5376
> Work - wpitelka@tntech.edu
> 615/597-6801 ext. 111, fax 615/597-6803
> http://www.craftcenter.tntech.edu/
>
>
____________________________________________________________________________
__
> Send postings to clayart@lsv.ceramics.org
>
> You may look at the archives for the list or change your subscription
> settings from http://www.ceramics.org/clayart/
>
> Moderator of the list is Mel Jacobson who may be reached at
melpots@pclink.com.

vince pitelka on tue 9 oct 01

> I did end up finding a 1.0 - 2.0 and may return it. Unless someone out
there
> needs it :-) Cheap ;-)

Jim -
Don't return it. It will work perfectly fine for a very thin suspension
like terra sig, and is a hell of a lot faster than figuring out specific
gravity by weight and volume.
Best wishes -
- Vince